Have you ever had someone in your life that is just always there at the perfect time, exactly when you need them, without even having to call? I do. I met her nearly 3 years ago and I'm blessed to spend a few days of every week with her family, keeping them safe, sound, happy, and fed. Her and I do most of our "hanging out" through the phone, when she calls to check on the kids, plus our 20 minutes in the morning before she rushes off to work. A few weeks ago she showed up at my FSAM show. She was shopping with her mom and the kids, but she took over my booth for 15 minutes so I could meet some of my Etsy West Michigan Team that was at the show. In that 15 minutes I was able to meet some amazing artists, spend some money on cool stuff, and come back to find out she was selling things like crazy! Then last night, at my Grandpa's funeral, she appeared again. Like an angel she showed up as I was dragging my screaming child out of the funeral parlor, tears streaming down my face, and my husband following behind us with a "kid, quit doing this to your mother" look on his face. She had come to pay her condolences to my dad, which she quickly did, then whisked away my kid so fast to spend some time at her house. WHY did I take a 4 year old to a funeral? Who the hell knows. Lesson learned. Don't do it. And if you do, don't be so overwhelmed with the situation that you don't think to bring ANYTHING to occupy him. Somehow in my moment of grief I thought that a small ziploc of cheerios was going to keep my kid busy for hours. Ha. Haven't I ever met this kid? I know better than that. He gladly left with Ami, I think he's either sick of seeing, or just plain confused, why Mommy keeps crying this week. She was truly a lifesaver by taking him off my hands for a couple hours so I could grieve with my family like I needed to. My Grandpa was such a special man, we're all going to miss him dearly. I don't know how Ami does it, but she always shows up when I need her most. I must be doing something right to have people in my life like her! Thanks Ami!
On a sidenote... I will be at FSAM again this Sunday! (Fulton Street Artisans Market) It is located in Grand Rapids on Fulton and Fuller. My twin sis has offered to help me out with my booth too! We'll be there from 11-3 so come on down and see us! I'll be taking custom orders for Ninja Pants, and I'll have everything from my Etsy site, along with a few other things that have yet to be listed! Last time I was at FSAM I learned that I'm becoming known as 'The Pants Lady' so come on down and order a pair! Mention this blog and I'll give you $5 off or free shipping! Hope to see you there!
This week my family lost a wonderful man. After 2 years of sickness and continous hospital visits and nursing home stays, my Grandpa King has passed away. He was an amazing man and we will all miss him dearly. It's been a long time coming, but that doesn't make it any easier. I'm just glad every one of us had a chance to go see him before he passed. My family is too great. We didn't just sit in his hospital room and cry. We shared memories, stories, laughs, and tears. We celebrated the time we've had with him and got to say goodbye. It was his choice not to be resusitated, and we respected that even though it is so hard to let someone go. They took him off dialysis and kept him comfortable and out of pain. He was surrounded by people that love him when he went. It has been a very long week for us all. I want to thank everyone that sent prayers, thoughts, and condolences to me through this blog, Twitter, Etsy, Facebook, Myspace, and everywhere else. It's a great feeling to know he's touched so many lives through the years, I'm very lucky to have had him in my life for 28 yrs! I had planned to write a much more heartfelt blog about this, but I'm just too cried-out and exhausted to do that now.
Again thank you to everyone for your friendship and support. *huge bear hugs to you all*
I wonder if he's got all the angels in heaven eating fruitcake toast?
Soooo one of my most favorite songs to sing. Especially when my husband is around and I can embarrass him in public. I met the drummer from The Marcels today at my art show! He was incredibly interesting to talk to and very entertaining! Not many people want to break into song as much as MaryLou and I do, but he did! I have dorky songs, mostly that I've made up, and Lou loves to belt out Zepplin, but we all got down with some doo-wop this afternoon! And we have been ever since -- it may be permanently etched in my brain. Bom-ma-bom, a-bom-bom-a-bom....
I also got to meet some fellow Etsy sellers, discovered Yard Golf, got some scrumptious beef jerky, discovered an all natural skin cream that I hope to blog about later if it does as promised, and got to hang out outside all day. It was absolutely perfect weather! Apparently not money-spending weather though, because this show itself was a bust. It's unfortunate since we've been looking forward to it for so long. I make more money while I'm asleep (because hey, even then I've got the chance at an Etsy sale). Boo hiss, nice knowin ya Milham Park, I won't be sellin my wares on your beautiful grassy hills anymore.
Tomorrow is a new day. I'm making myself that skirt I wanted a few posts ago. Hopefully all goes well! I found the petticoat I wanted to use with it FINALLY in a box marked "Lane's Summer Shit" in the basement. (What a descriptive label huh?) It was like Christmas in June! I forgot I even owned this stuff. Even better, it's not hideous and it still fits! Score!
I've got another show coming up tomorrow! It is Milham Art in the Park held at Milham Park in Portage. I hear it's a HUGE show! I haven't actually ever made it to this show in all the years I've been in Kalamazoo, but I sure have heard about it from damn near everyone. It was a major PITA to get into, mostly because of the booth sharing confusion my partner and I caused, but I was finally confirmed yesterday and will be there bright and early tomorrow morning! I hope it's as good as I've been told! Wish me luck!
I've blogged about JennaDesigns before, but man, she just gets better! I met her through Twitter and a mutual love for fabric and sewing machines, and look what she sent me the other day! I had complimented this fabric on her blog, but I never expected her to send me some! AWESOME! I don't know what I'm going to use it for, it's so neat I don't want to cut it up! Whatever it is that I end up doing with it, it really made my day. So thanks Jenna! Hope you are having fun with your new serger!
My camera has been fixed! Not only has it been fixed to near-perfection, but my husband is the one that fixed it! Now, he's a smart guy and an engineer, he builds massive bridges for cryin out loud, but I can't say I actually SEE him fix anything ever. I anticipated fear when he took my ziploc full of camera pieces and my chincy $1 screwdriver set I bought to *attempt* to fix this camera myself, along with the glue I planned to use on whatever the screwdriver didn't work for, and he sat down at the kitchen table and went to work. I sat on the couch researching where to buy my brand new - hopefully orange - Canon Powershot SD1200IS for the cheapest price while this went on, fully convinced that as soon as he gave up I'd be headed towards the nearest Canon camera bargain. Imagine my surprise when not even 15 minutes later he was showing me a still half assembled but WORKING camera! Only 10 minutes after that and a quick lecture about how I should not just pull the camera apart when I got to a point of stripping a screw, I had a complete working camera again! I'm not lying when I say I jumped and squealed with joy. Welcome back to life little camera!
I managed to drag myself out of bed this morning on about 3 hours of sleep to go to the farmer's market FINALLY. I've been wanting to get there for a couple weeks specifically to pick up my Whipped Cream Soap from Laura at Shower Treat Soap. She's been holding onto some jasmine scented greatness for me! This stuff is awesome! It smells fantastic and the feel of it is nice and fluffy and light! I kinda can't wait to shave my legs... I don't think I've ever said that in my life. I also picked up a fantastic green apple vegan lip balm too! It smells extra good and it's not sticky at all. Plus, everytime I see Laura she's got a smile on her face, an absolute pleasure to be around, so nice to see her today! :)
I tried to include a picture of Laura's whipped soap, but the html won't work and I'm not computer whiz, so here's a pic of my newest item instead. Why this picture works and the other one doesn't is beyond me. But hey, aren't the rockets cool too?
Other than that I'm having one of those if-you-don't-have-anything-nice-to-say... sort of days. Mom would be proud, I'll keep the negative to myself today. Maybe I'll call her to bitch later as repayment for teaching me that lesson. Love ya Mommers :) I'm off to the fabric store with my 50% coupon, I'm in the mood for some retail therapy and a new, maybe royal blue, princess skirt.
